Brush mower... PTO vs Universal quick connect

[Mike1369]

Hey guys, my LS comes with a quick connect system on the FEL. whats better, A PTO brush mower or the ones you put on the front of the tractor. How does the one on the front work. The rear is obvious but not sure how the blades work on those quick connect.

This


vs this

 

[oldbones]

If you're asking what drives the blade on the front mount like you have pictured, it's hyrdaulic drive. Personally, I like my PTO drive. More power from pto than hydraulic orbit motors. Hydraulic drive would take a really good pump and a really good hyd oil cooler. I don't know right off what an "LS" is, but if it's a small tractor I'd be leary about trying to hang something like that on the FEL and powering it w/hyd. Skid steers (like pictured) usually have a pump and cooler that would handle it.
my 2 cents

 

[medic0648]

LS is a tractor brand that makes mostly compact tractors. Unless you have a 50+HP tractor go for the Pto powered. The hydraulic units are heavy and usually need at least 20gpm to run reasonably vs. 20+ pto HP to run the Pto model depending on size.

 

[Mike1369]

Mine is a 77hp but don't know if it has a cooler for the hydro fluid.
This is all new to me.

 

[medic0648]

What do you plan to be mowing?

 

[Mike1369]

Grass... Well mostly weeds

 

[medic0648]

Fields with few trees or right of ways a Pto brush hog/shredder 10-15ft size being decided by any tight areas. The 15ft mower would fold to transport and fit through gates. A 10ft can be fixed or occasionally be found as a batwing design.

 

[DT86]

Both of those pictures are of hydraulic drive mowers by the way. I doubt you have the required GPM to run one.

You should be able to run a 8' or 10' pull type mower with 77 HP.

 

[medic0648]

The ls site shows 17gpm for attachment flow.

 

[Mike1369]

what would be better for clearing 8' rows. They both look easy to use, which one beats the tractor up less.

 

[DT86]

what would be better for clearing 8' rows. They both look easy to use, which one beats the tractor up less.

You probably will not find a hydraulic drive 8' mower. With hydro drive up front you obviously cut the material before you run over it. You mentioned only cutting grass so you'd have no problems with a 8' PTO mower.

With a rear mower I mow anything the front axle/bucket will push over.

 

[oldbones]

Personally, I'd go 7 or 8' 3 pt PTO.
Plenty of power to cut the big stuff, and will do decent on shorter stuff. It's not a grooming mower, so if you want it to look like the lawn, it ain't going to happen.
I use mine (Woods 7' PTO, 3 pt mount) to mow up to 3 feet tall grass, and to mow waterways down to about 3inches tall.
If I don't let it get too big (less than 12"), does a nice job. Just not a lawn mower. It will bunch up in the really tall, thick, heavy stuff, but that's to be expected.
Plus I think it would be hard doing a level job with FEL mount.
my 2 cents, again

 

[Mike1369]

I've taken everyone's $0.02 and will go with the pto set up.
Thanks to everyone that through out some input.